Activities and hobbies

Are residents encouraged to continue with their own hobbies and interests?

Is there an activities programme?

Are there dedicated activities staff in the home?

Are outings and activities outside the

home arranged?

Are relatives and friends able to participate in activities?

Does the home display photographs and information about recent activities?

Are special events, such as birthdays, celebrated in the home?

Does the home have access to transport for activities outside the home?

Are residents’ religious needs met?

Are individual activities available for residents who are not able to, or who do not wish to participate in group activities?

Does the home provide the opportunity for residents to assist with daily activities within the home such as gardening and cooking?

Are external entertainers and groups of interest invited into the home?

Are there regular exercise opportunities available to residents?

Are residents consulted on what activities are planned?

Visitors

Are there set visiting times or are visitors welcome at any time?

Can children visit?

Can visitors stay overnight if necessary?

Can visitors dine with their relative/friend?

Is there a relatives/friends committee?

General

Is the home’s Statement of Purpose available to read?

Is the home’s latest inspection report available to read?

Does the home have a philosophy of care?

Is there a complaints procedure?

What is included in the weekly fee?

What services/facilities/items are charged as extras?

Are quality audits carried out regularly in the home?

Is there a residents committee?

Care UKConnaught House850 The CrescentColchester Business ParkColchester Essex CO4 9QB

www.careuk.com

Other comments...

Choosing a care home

Home name: ...............................................

Date of visit: ................................................

Staff

Do staff appear to interact well with residents?

Do staff appear to respect residents’ privacy and dignity?

Do staff receive appropriate and regular training?

Does each resident have one member of staff in particular who is responsible for their care?

Does the Home Manager appear to be knowledgeable and friendly?

Do staff get to know residents and understand their personal likes/dislikes/needs?

Do staff appear friendly, approachable and caring?

Can staff be seen around the home?

Bedrooms

Does the home offer single or shared rooms?

Can residents bring their own possessions and furniture?

Are the bedrooms clean and well decorated?

Do the bedrooms have en-suite facilities?

Are the bedrooms well furnished?

Do bedrooms have a nurse call system?

Communal areas and facilities

Are there a variety of living spaces such as lounges, quiet rooms and dining rooms?

Is there an accessible and safe garden?

Is there easy access for wheelchairs and walking frames?

Do the lounges or other sitting rooms have pleasant views?

Does the home have other communal facilities such as hairdressing salon and therapy room?

Are there lifts in the home?

Are residents encouraged to use the garden?

Dining

Can residents eat when they want to?

Are residents offered a choice of menu for each meal?

Can meals be eaten in a resident’s room if desired?

Are special diets catered for?

Does the chef consult with residents regularly to discuss meal choice preferences?

Are snacks and drinks available at all times?

Are current menus on display or available for you to look at?

Are residents able to have assistance with eating if required?

Can residents make drinks for themselves?

Choosing a care homeThis checklist is designed to help

you think about what is important

to you when choosing a care

home for yourself or a loved one.

We hope it provides useful

suggestions on what to ask and

look out for when you visit a home.

First impressions

Is the outside of the home well kept and tidy?

Is the home clean and well maintained?

Are the staff friendly and welcoming?

Do the residents appear happy and content?

Are you offered refreshments during your visit?

Personal care

Does the home provide the right type of care for your needs?

How often are care needs reviewed?

Are residents and relatives encouraged to be involved in the decisions made about the care?

Is there a registered doctor for residents to see?

Do health care professionals such as dentists, opticians, chiropodists and physiotherapists visit the home?

Does the home offer complementary therapies?

Are relatives advised immediately if a resident is taken ill?

Does the home have suitable equipment and facilities to assist such as baths, hoists, electrically operated beds and wheelchairs?

Is there a hairdresser based at the home or one that visits on a regular basis?

Location

Is the home in the right location?

Can the home be reached easily by relatives and friends who will be visiting?

Is the home close to local amenities?

Does the home have adequate car parking?

Is the home easily accessible by public transport?

“The very best carefor the people youlove the most”

Staff

Do staff appear to interact well with residents?

Do staff appear to respect residents’ privacy and dignity?

Do staff receive appropriate and regular training?

Does each resident have one member of staff in particular who is responsible for their care?

Does the Home Manager appear to be knowledgeable and friendly?

Do staff get to know residents and understand their personal likes/dislikes/needs?

Do staff appear friendly, approachable and caring?

Can staff be seen around the home?

Bedrooms

Does the home offer single or shared rooms?

Can residents bring their own possessions and furniture?

Are the bedrooms clean and well decorated?

Do the bedrooms have en-suite facilities?

Are the bedrooms well furnished?

Do bedrooms have a nurse call system?

Communal areas and facilities

Are there a variety of living spaces such as lounges, quiet rooms and dining rooms?

Is there an accessible and safe garden?

Is there easy access for wheelchairs and walking frames?

Do the lounges or other sitting rooms have pleasant views?

Does the home have other communal facilities such as hairdressing salon and therapy room?

Are there lifts in the home?

Are residents encouraged to use the garden?

Dining

Can residents eat when they want to?

Are residents offered a choice of menu for each meal?

Can meals be eaten in a resident’s room if desired?

Are special diets catered for?

Does the chef consult with residents regularly to discuss meal choice preferences?

Are snacks and drinks available at all times?

Are current menus on display or available for you to look at?

Are residents able to have assistance with eating if required?

Can residents make drinks for themselves?

Choosing a care homeThis checklist is designed to help

you think about what is important

to you when choosing a care

home for yourself or a loved one.

We hope it provides useful

suggestions on what to ask and

look out for when you visit a home.

First impressions

Is the outside of the home well kept and tidy?

Is the home clean and well maintained?

Are the staff friendly and welcoming?

Do the residents appear happy and content?

Are you offered refreshments during your visit?

Personal care

Does the home provide the right type of care for your needs?

How often are care needs reviewed?

Are residents and relatives encouraged to be involved in the decisions made about the care?

Is there a registered doctor for residents to see?

Do health care professionals such as dentists, opticians, chiropodists and physiotherapists visit the home?

Does the home offer complementary therapies?

Are relatives advised immediately if a resident is taken ill?

Does the home have suitable equipment and facilities to assist such as baths, hoists, electrically operated beds and wheelchairs?

Is there a hairdresser based at the home or one that visits on a regular basis?

Location

Is the home in the right location?

Can the home be reached easily by relatives and friends who will be visiting?

Is the home close to local amenities?

Does the home have adequate car parking?

Is the home easily accessible by public transport?

“The very best carefor the people youlove the most”

Activities and hobbies

Are residents encouraged to continue with their own hobbies and interests?

Is there an activities programme?

Are there dedicated activities staff in the home?

Are outings and activities outside the

home arranged?

Are relatives and friends able to participate in activities?

Does the home display photographs and information about recent activities?

Are special events, such as birthdays, celebrated in the home?

Does the home have access to transport for activities outside the home?

Are residents’ religious needs met?

Are individual activities available for residents who are not able to, or who do not wish to participate in group activities?

Does the home provide the opportunity for residents to assist with daily activities within the home such as gardening and cooking?

Are external entertainers and groups of interest invited into the home?

Are there regular exercise opportunities available to residents?

Are residents consulted on what activities are planned?

Visitors

Are there set visiting times or are visitors welcome at any time?

Can children visit?

Can visitors stay overnight if necessary?

Can visitors dine with their relative/friend?

Is there a relatives/friends committee?

General

Is the home’s Statement of Purpose available to read?

Is the home’s latest inspection report available to read?

Does the home have a philosophy of care?

Is there a complaints procedure?

What is included in the weekly fee?

What services/facilities/items are charged as extras?

Are quality audits carried out regularly in the home?

Is there a residents committee?

Care UKConnaught House850 The CrescentColchester Business ParkColchester Essex CO4 9QB

www.careuk.com

Other comments...

Choosing a care home

Home name: ...............................................

Date of visit: ................................................

Activities and hobbies

Are residents encouraged to continue with their own hobbies and interests?

Is there an activities programme?

Are there dedicated activities staff in the home?

Are outings and activities outside the

home arranged?

Are relatives and friends able to participate in activities?

Does the home display photographs and information about recent activities?

Are special events, such as birthdays, celebrated in the home?

Does the home have access to transport for activities outside the home?

Are residents’ religious needs met?

Are individual activities available for residents who are not able to, or who do not wish to participate in group activities?

Does the home provide the opportunity for residents to assist with daily activities within the home such as gardening and cooking?

Are external entertainers and groups of interest invited into the home?

Are there regular exercise opportunities available to residents?

Are residents consulted on what activities are planned?

Visitors

Are there set visiting times or are visitors welcome at any time?

Can children visit?

Can visitors stay overnight if necessary?

Can visitors dine with their relative/friend?

Is there a relatives/friends committee?

General

Is the home’s Statement of Purpose available to read?

Is the home’s latest inspection report available to read?

Does the home have a philosophy of care?

Is there a complaints procedure?

What is included in the weekly fee?

What services/facilities/items are charged as extras?

Are quality audits carried out regularly in the home?

Is there a residents committee?

Care UKConnaught House850 The CrescentColchester Business ParkColchester Essex CO4 9QB

www.careuk.com

Other comments...

Choosing a care home

Home name: ...............................................

Date of visit: ................................................

Staff

Do staff appear to interact well with residents?

Do staff appear to respect residents’ privacy and dignity?

Do staff receive appropriate and regular training?

Does each resident have one member of staff in particular who is responsible for their care?

Does the Home Manager appear to be knowledgeable and friendly?

Do staff get to know residents and understand their personal likes/dislikes/needs?

Do staff appear friendly, approachable and caring?

Can staff be seen around the home?

Bedrooms

Does the home offer single or shared rooms?

Can residents bring their own possessions and furniture?

Are the bedrooms clean and well decorated?

Do the bedrooms have en-suite facilities?

Are the bedrooms well furnished?

Do bedrooms have a nurse call system?

Communal areas and facilities

Are there a variety of living spaces such as lounges, quiet rooms and dining rooms?

Is there an accessible and safe garden?

Is there easy access for wheelchairs and walking frames?

Do the lounges or other sitting rooms have pleasant views?

Does the home have other communal facilities such as hairdressing salon and therapy room?

Are there lifts in the home?

Are residents encouraged to use the garden?

Dining

Can residents eat when they want to?

Are residents offered a choice of menu for each meal?

Can meals be eaten in a resident’s room if desired?

Are special diets catered for?

Does the chef consult with residents regularly to discuss meal choice preferences?

Are snacks and drinks available at all times?

Are current menus on display or available for you to look at?

Are residents able to have assistance with eating if required?

Can residents make drinks for themselves?

Choosing a care homeThis checklist is designed to help

you think about what is important

to you when choosing a care

home for yourself or a loved one.

We hope it provides useful

suggestions on what to ask and

look out for when you visit a home.

First impressions

Is the outside of the home well kept and tidy?

Is the home clean and well maintained?

Are the staff friendly and welcoming?

Do the residents appear happy and content?

Are you offered refreshments during your visit?

Personal care

Does the home provide the right type of care for your needs?

How often are care needs reviewed?

Are residents and relatives encouraged to be involved in the decisions made about the care?

Is there a registered doctor for residents to see?

Do health care professionals such as dentists, opticians, chiropodists and physiotherapists visit the home?

Does the home offer complementary therapies?

Are relatives advised immediately if a resident is taken ill?

Does the home have suitable equipment and facilities to assist such as baths, hoists, electrically operated beds and wheelchairs?

Is there a hairdresser based at the home or one that visits on a regular basis?

Location

Is the home in the right location?

Can the home be reached easily by relatives and friends who will be visiting?

Is the home close to local amenities?

Does the home have adequate car parking?

Is the home easily accessible by public transport?

“The very best carefor the people youlove the most”